Container evacuation arrangement

ABSTRACT

The invention discloses a container evacuation arrangement, which includes a flexible container constructed of at least two layers, each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets and having a first flexible pocket adapted to receive a flowable material, a second flexible pocket in sealed fluid communication with the first flexible pocket. The first flexible pocket has an inlet and/or funnel and a drain, while the second flexible pocket is provided with a fill port. The flexible container is supported by a rigid frame.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container evacuation arrangement.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a container evacuation arrangement for evacuation of bulk flowable materials in intermediate bulk containers.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Viscous, greasy, flowable materials including powders are generally transported in containers having a rigid exterior frame and a flexible interior pocket. The interior pocket normally contains a top mounted inlet and a side mounted drain. The pocket is thus filled from the top inlet, which is capped for transportation and storage. When the container is to be evacuated, the drain is opened and the material is allowed to flow out of the container through the drain.

Where the materials are viscous and less flowable for example due to temperature effects, a mechanism is provided to force the viscous material out of the container through the drain. Examples include a double chamber whereby air is pumped into a first chamber to force the viscous material out of an adjacent second chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,351 (Wilcox) discloses a pillow bag which is modified to include an air input port that allows inflation of an interply region of the bag. As the interply region inflates, an inner ply rises and becomes an advancing wall, raising the bulk material level in the bag, inclining the bottom of the bag, and pulling excess material away from the drain port all at the same time. In another embodiment, the pillow bag is made with half the initial number of layers folded in half to create the upper and lower plies and the non-fold edges are bonded. Where corner drain ports are used, the bag can be arranged so that an interlayer bond parallel to the fold is parallel to a diagonal of a tote in which the bag sits and so that the interlayer bond is opposite the drain port to enhance bag evacuation. An additional optional feature of the invention is the inclusion of an integral filling conduit or snout on the top of the bag, a mouth of which acts as a fill port to ease filling of the bag. The invention can also be applied to fitted bags.

US Patent Application 20010002675 (Wilcox) discloses a method and apparatus for enhancing evacuation of bulk material shipper bags. A bag is modified to include an air input port that allows inflation of an interply region of the bag. As the interply region inflates, an inner ply rises and becomes an advancing wall, raising the bulk material level in the bag, inclining the bottom of the bag, and pulling excess material away from the drain port all at the same time. In another embodiment, the bag is made with half the initial number of layers folded in half to create the upper and lower plies and the non-fold edges are bonded. Where corner drain ports are used, the bag can be arranged so that an interlayer bond parallel to the fold is parallel to a diagonal of a tote in which the bag sits and so that the interlayer bond is opposite the drain port to enhance bag evacuation. An additional optional feature of the invention is the inclusion of an integral filling conduit or snout on the top of the bag, a mouth of which acts as a fill port to ease filling of the bag. Junctures can be created in the interply region to guide its inflation. The invention can also be applied to fitted bags.

US Patent Application 20080302819 (Stuart) discloses a container evacuation system for viscous flowable materials such as grease, paste or flowable powders. The container system includes a lightweight, rigid exterior, such as a cardboard container. Provided within the container is a flexible containment system constructed of polyethylene sheets or the like. The flexible containment system is provided with a plurality of weldments to create at least two pockets, wherein one pocket contains the flowable material and a second pocket is available to be filled with air, to allow air provided to the second pocket to force the flowable material from the first pocket out through a drain. The system includes a weldment which curves around at least a portion of the drain to create a funnel which focuses flowable material toward the drain, while reducing the likelihood of a portion of the flexible containment system from obstructing the movement of flowable material out of the first pocket through the drain.

However, the known construction methods for the evacuation of viscous material explained above have drawbacks, in particular regarding the positioning of the welding lines between the pockets of chambers.

It is an object of the invention to a container evacuation arrangement which will assist in overcoming the afore-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a container evacuation arrangement includes a flexible container constructed of at least two layers each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets and having

-   -   (a) a first flexible pocket adapted to receive a flowable         material;     -   (b) a second flexible pocket in communication with the first         flexible pocket and sealed in fluid communication with the first         flexible pocket;     -   (c) an inlet and/or funnel in communication with the first         flexible pocket;     -   (d) a drain in communication with the first flexible pocket;     -   (e) a fill port in communication with the second flexible         pocket;     -   and a rigid frame for supporting the flexible container.

Also according to the invention, a method for evacuating a container includes the steps of

-   -   (a) providing a flexible container constructed of at least two         layers each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets and         having         -   (i) a first flexible pocket adapted to receive a flowable             material;         -   (ii) a second flexible pocket in communication with the             first flexible pocket and sealed in fluid communication with             the first flexible pocket;         -   (iii) an inlet and/or funnel in communication with the first             flexible pocket;         -   (iv) a drain in communication with the first flexible             pocket;         -   (v) a fill port in communication with the second flexible             pocket;     -   (b) of supporting the flexible container with a rigid frame;     -   (c) of opening the drain in communication with the first         flexible pocket to allow the flowable material to exit the first         flexible pocket;     -   (d) of charging a fluid into the second flexible pocket through         the fill port with sufficient pressure to assist in forcing the         flowable material out of the first flexible pocket.

The second flexible pocket may surround the first flexible pocket.

The first flexible pocket may be secured to the second flexible pocket as follows:

-   -   (a) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet;     -   (b) along seams having a rectangular shape and/or a side of the         container;     -   (c) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet         and which further extend to the opposite corners of the first         flexible pocket; and/or     -   (d) along seams surrounding the inlet and/or the funnel and the         drain.

The polygonally shaped sheet, along whose seams the first flexible pocket and the second flexible pocket are secured, may include the inlet and/or funnel and the drain.

The respective four polygonally shaped sheets may be inter-connected and/or integrally formed.

The flexible container may be a form-fit flexible container.

The seams may be substantially straight.

The fluid may be air.

The flexible container may be cube-shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawing there is shown in:

FIG. 1: A perspective view of a flexible container of a container evacuation arrangement according to the invention, with the first pocket full and the second pocket empty and with the dotted lines indicating folds;

FIG. 2: A perspective view of the flexible container shown in FIG. 1, but with the first pocket partially empty and the second pocket containing fluid and with the thick line indicating the seam lines;

FIG. 3: A perspective view of the flexible container shown in FIG. 1, but with the first pocket partially empty and the second pocket containing fluid and with the thick line indicating the seam lines;

FIG. 4: A perspective view of the flexible container shown in FIG. 1, but with the first pocket partially empty and the second pocket containing fluid and with the thick line indicating the seam lines;

FIG. 5: A perspective view of the flexible container shown in FIG. 1, but with the first pocket partially empty and the second pocket containing fluid and with the thick line indicating the seam lines;

FIG. 6: A perspective view of a first panel of the flexible pocket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7: A perspective view of a second panel of the flexible pocket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8: A perspective view of a third panel of the flexible pocket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9: A perspective view of a fourth panel of the flexible pocket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10: A perspective view of a panel used to construct a layer of the flexible container according to a second embodiment of the invention, with the dotted lines indicating folds; and

FIG. 11: A top flat view of the panel as shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a flexible pocket for a container evacuation arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown.

A container evacuation arrangement includes a cube-shaped flexible container 10 constructed of at least two layers each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets 12, 14, 16, 18 and having

-   -   (a) a first flexible pocket 20 adapted to receive a flowable         material;     -   (b) a second flexible pocket 22 in communication with the first         flexible pocket 20 and sealed in fluid communication with the         first flexible pocket 20;     -   (c) an inlet and/or funnel 24 in communication with the first         flexible pocket 20;     -   (d) a drain 26 in communication with the first flexible pocket         20;     -   (e) a fill port 28 in communication with the second flexible         pocket 22;     -   and a rigid frame (not shown) to supporting the flexible         container 10.

The second flexible pocket 22 surrounds the first flexible pocket 20.

The first flexible pocket 20 is secured to the second flexible pocket 22 as follows:

-   -   (a) along seams 30 along the edges of one polygonally shaped         sheet 12;     -   (b) along seams 30.1 having a rectangular shape and/or a side of         the container;     -   (c) along seams 30.2 along the edges of one polygonally shaped         sheet 12 and which further extend to the opposite corners of the         first flexible pocket 20; and/or     -   (d) along seams 30.3 surrounding the inlet and/or funnel 24 and         the drain 26.

The polygonally shaped sheet 12 along whose seams the first flexible pocket 20 and the second flexible pocket 22 are secured includes the inlet and/or funnel 24 and the drain 26.

The respective four polygonally shaped sheets 12, 14, 16, 28 can be connected/integrally formed as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The flexible container 10 is a form-fit flexible container.

The seams 30 are substantially straight.

Thus the container evacuation arrangement according to the invention provides a method for evacuating a container which includes the steps of

-   -   (a) providing a flexible container 10 constructed of at least         two layers each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets 12,         14, 16, 18 and having         -   (i) a first flexible pocket 20 adapted to receive a flowable             material;         -   (ii) a second flexible pocket 22 in communication with the             first flexible pocket 20 and sealed in fluid communication             with the first flexible pocket 20;         -   (iii) an inlet and/or funnel 24 in communication with the             first flexible pocket 20;         -   (iv) a drain 26 in communication with the first flexible             pocket 20;         -   (v) a fill port 28 in communication with the second flexible             pocket 22;     -   (b) of supporting the flexible container 10 with a rigid frame;     -   (c) of opening the drain 26 in communication with the first         flexible pocket 20 to allow the flowable material to exit the         first flexible pocket 20;     -   (d) of inserting a fluid into the second flexible pocket 22         through the fill port 28 with sufficient pressure to assist in         forcing the flowable material out of the first flexible pocket         20.

The fluid is generally air, but can be another gas. 

1. A container evacuation arrangement, which includes a flexible container constructed of at least two layers, each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets and having (a) a first flexible pocket adapted to receive a flowable material; (b) a second flexible pocket in communication with the first flexible pocket and sealed in fluid communication with the first flexible pocket; (c) an inlet and/or funnel in communication with the first flexible pocket; (d) a drain in communication with the first flexible pocket; (e) a fill port in communication with the second flexible pocket; and a rigid frame for supporting the flexible container.
 2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible pocket surrounds the first flexible pocket.
 3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible pocket is secured to the second flexible pocket as follows: (a) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet; (b) along seams having a rectangular shape and/or a side of the container; (c) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet and which further extend to the opposite corners of the first flexible pocket; and/or (d) along seams surrounding the inlet and/or the funnel and the drain.
 4. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the polygonally shaped sheet, along whose seams the first flexible pocket and the second flexible pocket are secured, includes the inlet and/or funnel and the drain.
 5. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the respective four polygonally shaped sheets are inter-connected and/or integrally formed.
 6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flexible container is a form-fit flexible container.
 7. The arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the seams are substantially straight.
 8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is air.
 9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flexible container is cube-shaped.
 10. A method for evacuating a container includes the steps of (a) providing a flexible container constructed of at least two layers each consisting of four polygonally shaped sheets and having (i) a first flexible pocket adapted to receive a flowable material; (ii) a second flexible pocket in communication with the first flexible pocket and sealed in fluid communication with the first flexible pocket; (iii) an inlet and/or funnel in communication with the first flexible pocket; (iv) a drain in communication with the first flexible pocket; (v) a fill port in communication with the second flexible pocket; (b) of supporting the flexible container with a rigid frame; (c) of opening the drain in communication with the first flexible pocket to allow the flowable material to exit the first flexible pocket; and (d) of charging a fluid into the second flexible pocket through the fill port with sufficient pressure to assist in forcing the flowable material out of the first flexible pocket.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible pocket surrounds the first flexible pocket.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first flexible pocket is secured to the second flexible pocket as follows: (a) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet; (b) along seams having a rectangular shape and/or a side of the container; (c) along seams along the edges of one polygonally shaped sheet and which further extend to the opposite corners of the first flexible pocket; and/or (d) along seams surrounding the inlet and/or the funnel and the drain.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the polygonally shaped sheet, along whose seams the first flexible pocket and the second flexible pocket are secured, includes the inlet and/or funnel and the drain.
 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the respective four polygonally shaped sheets are inter-connected and/or integrally formed.
 15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible container is a form-fit flexible container.
 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the seams are substantially straight.
 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the fluid is air.
 18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flexible container is cube-shaped. 19-20. (canceled) 